PACKRAFT PADDLER COURSE
DURATION: 4 DAYS (INC. ASSESSMENT)
COST: £390 + WSA MEMBERSHIP
Minimum age: 18 years unaccompanied and 12 years if accompanied by parent / guardian
Packrafting is a new and exciting way to journey, it will revolutionise your adventures in the UK and beyond. We want to ensure you have the best possible experience and to leave us with the same passion for Packrafting as we have!
The course has been written and developed by Jason Taylor of Tirio specifically for Packrafters, and is Water Skills Academy certified. We are passionate about sharing our experience and knowledge. We are justifiably proud of our course; we live and breathe packrafting and are proud to be able to share our ideas with others.
Whilst many of the peripheral ideas, strategies and tactics are similar to other paddlesport disciplines, the Course acknowledges that the Packraft is a specialist watercraft, with its own unique characteristics, abilities and problems. This isn’t a kayak or canoe course in a packraft!
The course will be delivered by a mixture of experienced paddlesports coaches and packrafters – you’ll meet some of the best in the business. It follows a common-sense approach and builds on those skills that you may already have. We will focus not only on your paddling ability, but also your decision making.
We pride ourselves on helping our clients develop an honest appreciation of their own ability and, therefore, take on appropriate adventures. That means that we will offer constructive feedback on your performance throughout the course.
The course is heavily skills based and therefore, whilst you will be taught some theory, the main emphasis will be coaching your decision making, techniques and skills. This will allow you to make an honest appreciation of your own level of ability. This is a key factor when undertaking longer expeditions in more remote areas.
COURSE AIM
The aim of the Packraft Paddler Course is to give you the abilities to undertake successful single day packrafting journeys as part of a peer group. This is not an instructor, coach or guide course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Upon successful completion of the Packraft Paddler Course you should have demonstrated your ability to plan and execute a packrafting trips as part of a peer group, on a variety of sheltered water. Eg. rivers, lakes, lochs and slow moving estuaries. On lakes and lochs you should be able to operate up to 200m from shore, on water with a fetch of up to .5km and where the effects of the wind on the water are no more than force 3. On rivers you will have covered the skills necessary to paddle effectively on grade 1(2) water. In Tidal Areas you should only operate in: Slower moving estuaries and on sea lochs that aren’t exposed to the open sea, small enclosed bays and sheltered harbours; these should have defined beaches and easy landings throughout. In these Tidal Areas you should only operate, where there is minimal risk of being blown off shore: in winds up to force 3 (blowing on shore) and force 2 (blowing off shore) and where there is little or no swell.
Important Note: The course does not cover the skills required to paddle on coastlines exposed to the open sea. These water descriptions are ceilings not starting points, you should progress slowly and with careful attention to your own ability and the abilities of any one with whom you paddle with. The Packraft Paddler Course is not a leadership or coaching award. It does not teach or assess those skills that are required to safely and effectively lead or coach others in a packraft.
Ability
Due to the nature of the activity, all participants should be content that they are of a suitable level of physical health to undertake it. Depending on your chosen activity you may be required to walk and paddle for several hours per day. The description of your activity on or website will give you a clear indication of the distances covered.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
All participants must be able to easily swim 25m and be confident in open water (defined as 25m from land).
Things You Should Know Before We Begin:
Teaching Vs Coaching
The course is heavily skills based and therefore, whilst you will be taught some theory, the main emphasis will be coaching your decision making, techniques and skills. This will allow you to make an honest appreciation of your own level of ability. This is a key factor when undertaking longer expeditions in more remote areas.
Assessment
The course consists of both theory and practical sessions. The staff are handpicked by us and have not only the required qualifications to deliver and assess this course, but also loads of hands-on experience. As such, they will be responsible for assessing whether you display the required levels of confidence to achieve the award.If you do not, on this occasion, meet the required standard your instructor will discuss and agree an action plan with you.
Once you have completed this plan you will be able to arrange a re-assessment of any topics required. To achieve the award, you will be required to provide evidence of your ability in a number of ways:
By demonstrating sound judgment throughout the course
By demonstrating an appropriate level of packrafting and paddling ability
By successfully completing the course tasks.
Practical Assessments
Throughout the course your instructor will give you a number of practical tasks. In these you will be required to demonstrate your skills and asked relevant questions.
What Will We Cover?
The course is spread over 32 contact hours with several hours of research and evidence gathering homework and it will cover the following core areas:-
Packrafting Fundamentals
Rescues and safety on the water
Paddling Techniques
Open Water Skills and Strategies (including wind tactics and sailing)
Moving Water Skills and Strategies (including hydrology, water features, entering and leaving flow and hazards)
Weather Implications
Group and Individual Needs
Equipment selection
Communications
Journey planning
Risk Management
Consolidation Journey
Course Review and Own Action Plan
The full course syllabus is available on request.
After the Course
You will be full of new knowledge and an improved skillset; no doubt you’ll be itching to get out there and build your experience. It’s important to remember, that the Packraft Expedition Paddler Course is just a waypoint on your Packrafting journey. After successful completion of the course, you should be able to safely undertake multi day packrafting journeys on sheltered open water and moving water up to and including grade 1 as part of a group. That said, no two rivers or pieces of open water are the same – it is important not to become blasé about the water environment. The best way to insure against this is to be mindful and honest about your own ability and seek further training to progress your skills further.
Age
Minimum age 18yrs / 12 if accompanied by a parent or guardian
DURATION:
4 DAYS INC ASSESSMENT
COST:
£390 + WSA MEMBERSHIP
